Come gather togetherLet’s see how you’re doingCome gather togetherIt’s time to check inWe want to know whetherYou’ve made any headwayIt’s time that we said, “Hey!And how have you been.”

It’s time that we said, “Hey!And how have you been.”

Come Gather TogetherWho I AmThe Rock

Gathering together holds special meaning for communities. As the song suggests it is a time to restore the health and well being of the group as a whole. Overall, gatherings are positive experiences.

I wrote this song to end the first act of the 2018 musical, The Rock. In the story line of the show two lost hikers end up at the gathering of the regular attendees at The Rock. In real life some groups are excellent at welcoming new comers, some groups have a hard time doing so, and there is a full gradient of experiences in between. In the musical - has the inadvertent arrival of new guests upset the community beyond repair? The Rock has been an important part in the lives of the characters of this musical. Individual struggles are creeping into the fabric of the community but gathering together helps take off the edge. Or does it further highlight what some are saying about the group as a whole?

In my own life, I am a member of many different communities. I was the keynote speaker at the 2018 New England conference of the Children's Music Network. With help from my son Luke, I shared stories and songs of my own path in the journey of working as a children's musician. I had just written this song and was able to share an acoustic version of the song with my friends at CMN.